Choosing the Right Menu

There’s no single “right” menu for a celebration of life — the right one depends on the time of day, how formal the gathering feels, and how long people are expected to stay.

For a mid-morning or early-afternoon gathering, a coffee and dessert reception or an English-tea-style spread of sandwiches, scones, and sweets tends to fit naturally — it gives people something to do with their hands without turning the event into a meal. For a gathering that spans a mealtime, a full lunch or a hot buffet makes more sense, since guests will expect to actually eat rather than nibble.

Formality is worth thinking about honestly. A platter-and-canapé spread reads as more casual and mingling-friendly; a seated hot meal reads as more structured. Neither is more “correct” — it’s about what matches how your family gathers.

Dietary needs are easier to handle if you think about them early rather than at the last minute. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options can usually be built into a menu without singling anyone out, as long as the caterer knows the mix of needs in your group in advance.

It’s also worth asking what a menu includes versus what’s separate — packaging fees, beverage service, and rentals like chafing dishes or servers are often quoted apart from the food itself. Knowing that upfront avoids surprises later.

Our own menus are grouped by style — catering packages, English high tea, à la carte platters and canapés, hot meals and salads, an Asian fusion menu, and beverages — with real prices on each page, so you can compare options before calling.